Page 85 of Broken Souls

“I can't wait to meet my mate,” the other girl says enthusiastically.

“Me too. I will be able to kiss her whenever I want unlike humans who have to date to be able to do that,” the other boy says.

I chuckle and don't say anything. I never thought of mates at such a young age but I guess they're in the early stages of puberty so their hormones will be running wild. I walk them back into the pack area where they walk off together down the road. I decide to go for my run and just stay in the forest in case Axe needs me. He'll be out there for hours with the boy anyway.

Chapter Fifty-Seven

During my run I can hear the boy's screams so I run in another direction. I can't bear to hear his pained cries. I know Axe is with him, so I'm just going to focus on my run. Since I know Axe is close by I decide to go further out and explore more land. The deeper I get into the forest, I see other wildlife, like little critters. But when I run through, the bunnies streak away quickly, like bolts of lightning. I decide to see if I can catch one. I'm not going to hurt it, but I want to see if I can get close enough. The next hour I spend chasing the same bunny, but he keeps outrunning me. Damn, I'm definitely not a hunter. I get frustrated and tired from his quick little legs so I stop chasing him.

When I look around I realise how far out I am. I sense I'm still on the territory so I just walk around for a bit, working out the way back to the pack. A stick snaps, making me stand up alert. I look around but don't see anything. I hear a few more sticks snapping in the distance. Is someone walking? I smell the area and get a scent. It's a werewolf scent, but it has an unidentifiable streak to it. I think of what to do. Following the scent is probably stupid. Yet running back to the pack might be stupid too since I don't know who the wolf is and if they need help. I linger around the area and smell them getting closer. Soon enough, I see a wolf emerge from out of the trees. The wolf is a white and grey one but its paws are covered with dirt. It surprises me by shifting and a woman is standing there. I don't recognise her so I stay in my wolf form.

“I'm sorry, Miss... Luna. I didn't mean to trespass,” she apologises, her voice kind. I decide to shift back.

“Umm, it's okay. Are you a rogue?” I ask.

“Yes, Luna.”

I'm shocked by her manners. I imagined rogues to be vicious. Also I'm surprised at her calling me Luna.

“Well, I'm supposed to bring rogues to the alpha. Umm...” I trail off not knowing the protocol to bring a rogue in.

“I'm not thrilled to meet alpha Manson,” she says.

“Wait, you know him?” I frown.

“No, I just...”

“Why did you come on the territory?” I question.

“Hope I guess,” she murmurs.

“What do you mean?” I frown.

Does she want to join the pack?

“You're the luna. Maybe you can help me. I'm looking for someone,” she says. “I knew someone in this pack eighteen years ago. He was a patroller back then so I thought I would run into him.”

All colour leaves my face from her words. She's looking for a patroller she knew eighteen years ago. I look at her features, studying them. Her eyes are amber, the same as mine.

“Lizzy?” the name escapes me.

When her eyes widen and fill with emotion, tears fall from mine.

“Elora,” she breathes out.

A deafening silence settles between us. Neither of us says anything. I feel if I speak, I will cry. Eighteen years. Eighteen years I wished to know her. Now, she's standing in front of me. My mother. She is where I came from. She gave me life. All the questions I had over the years are lost on my tongue right now. I don't even know what to think. I feel like an emotional mess, yet I feel like I'm in a blank void all at once. How do I... what... I have no words.

“Elora,” she says again, taking a step toward me. “Are you okay?”

I realise I'm trembling. I take a shaky breath.

“I-I d-don't know what to say,” I stutter.

“Can I please have the chance to talk? I know you must think horrid things of me but I would like to tell my story,” she speaks calmly.

“You were looking for my dad,” I say.

“No, I was looking for you. But I thought he would be the best way to find you,” she says.